Cynthia Lennon, first wife of John Lennon, dies

LONDON, April 1 (UPI) -- Cynthia Lennon, first wife of Beatles member John Lennon, has died after a "short but brave battle with cancer."

The announcement was made Wednesday on her son Julian's website. He was by her bedside "throughout."

She met Lennon when she was 18, before The Beatles exploded as international super stars. She was 75 when she died.

They were married for a brief amount of time and Cynthia was kept out of the spotlight so The Beatles' female fans did not recognize her. She stayed at home with their son while the band toured.

Cynthia married Lennon in 1962, but divorced him in 1968 when she learned of the affair he had with Japanese artist Yoko Ono, whom he married a year later.